The hardest thing I ever did was remain true to myself in the face of pressure--peer pressure, or even just stranger pressure. You know, the way strangers expect you to behave..."like the rest of us!"
The president--I mean this president--will always, I believe strongly, remain true to himself.
Yes it is hard, but I've found that the hardest things we do usually turn out to be the most worthwhile.
There are those who cannot see; there are those who will not see; there are those who see and understand.
This president, I think it's safe to say, falls into the third category. One who's learned to remain true to self has learned to strive to be true to those looking for someone to lead. But lead us where? Many seem to ask: "Why the hell isn't the president doing what we want him to do?" I don't know. Maybe he keeps running into a brick wall, and slamming his head against it; maybe he lied to us, maybe he isn't what we thought he was...I don't believe that at all.
Maybe he is trying too hard to understand--or was, for I have a feeling his desire to build bridges for/with those who keep trying to blow them up--is starting to turn to a bright indignation. Patience may be a virtue, but it appears to be a finite one. And I have a feeling this president is rearming, having reached the limits of his own nature, that of "let's pull together."
Well, brilliant as he is, certainly he can see how that plan has worked out thus far. There are those whose desires only go as far as the next election. They want things as they are, as they have always been, and they will do and/or say anything to keep that status quo. Suddenly here comes this confident black (gasp!) man with an oratorical gift seemingly from on high, and political gifts as yet unrevealed.
True to self, this man at first sees no reason why reasonable people cannot sit together on behalf of the common good--after all, are we not all Americans? I used to think that way, and I suspect that for all his beautiful declarations about there not being two Americas, this president is at last coming to grips with the bitterness of finding that not all Americans are willing to pull in the same direction.
Those who will not see only wish to hang on to things as things are and have always been. "I'll keep my money. You can keep the change" read one faded and tattered bumper sticker. I shake my head a lot. You?
True to self, it is quite a shock to find not everyone falls into place because this president says so. That's why he has this first lady. I imagine Michelle Obama showing her husband his old videos, like maybe his "Enough!" speech. She sits him down, stands behind him, puts her arms around his neck, lovingly but firmly whispers, "Remember that guy?"
I love this country too much to let them take over with lies, misdirection, and swiftboating. These are serious times, and they call for serious debate.
Spare me the phony outrage, phony talk about change. We have real problems, we need real answers, not distractions, diversions and manipulations.
Tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.
Remember that guy, Mr. President?